Private publications

Invocation à l'amour. Chant philosophique.

c. 1825

: Wellcome Library, London.

Published by “A virtuoso of the good fashion”, and containing text and plate legends in French verse, we have little information about Invocation à l'amour.

From the French gamahucher (and possibly derived gamma ut, the lowest note in the medieval scale), gamahuche is a slang term for oral sex. On this page the man tells of his delight in performing the act, boasting that “Demosthenes, praised for his fine speech, was no better able to use his tongue than me”.

Aphrodisiacs and anti-aphrodisiacs

John Davenport. 1869

: Wellcome Library, London.

Privately printed in London, Aphrodisiacs and anti-aphrodisiacs seeks to address a “lacuna in our popular literature” which has been brought about by modern “over-strained notions of delicacy”, the topic in question being phallic worship.

With a whistle-stop tour through history from Ancient Egypt to Voltaire, taking in “Madame du Barri’s secret”, “George IV’s appreciation of truffles” and the ‘Stimulating powers of odours”, Davenport recounts numerous forms of turn-ons (and turn-offs) across time.

Anthologica rarissima: volume the first, the way of a virgin

Introduced, compiled & edited by L. and C. Brovan. 1922

: Wellcome Library, London.

In the preface to this edition, the Brovan Society describes its mission as to “carry out research work into the less-known and more curious folk-lore and literature of Europe and the Orient”. It quickly becomes apparent that the books the society publishes are “in the main, erotic, or so frank as to relegate them to the category of improper”, however pains are taken to emphasise that “its tone, though erotic, is in no sense pornographic.”

Privately printed in a limited edition of 250, Anthologica rarissima: the way of the virgin is arranged much like a collection of bedtime stories, however it is far from appropriate for reading to children. In addition to the tale of the “Princess who Pisseth”, highlights include “The Breaker of Eggs” and “The Pike’s Head”.

The ten pleasures of marriage

Attributed to Aphra Behn (reprinted with an introduction by John Harvey). 1921

: Wellcome Library, London.

Originally published in 1683, The ten pleasures was subsequently attributed to Aphra Behn, a prolific female dramatist of the English Restoration and one of the first professional female literary writers.

This attribution is now strongly debated, however The ten pleasures remains of historical interest for its description of English middle class life under James II, and as an example of a growing genre of didactic works, including guides to manners, housewifery and sport.

L'Arétin français par un membre de l'Académie des dames

François-Félix Nogaret. 1782

: Wellcome Library, London.

Son of a chief clerk in the King's household, from 1761 to 1791 Nogaret worked in the same offices as his father, combining this job with that of librarian of the Comtesse d'Artois. After the revolution he received a pension of 1,500 francs and was later appointed the dramatic censor by Lucien Bonaparte, Minister of the Interior.

Published for the first time in 1787, L’Aretin français was reprinted numerous times, and sentenced to be pulped six times, between 1815 and 1865. Exclusively printed for the members of the Société des Bibliophiles-Aphrodiphiles, this edition is heavily illustrated, reproducing illustrations executed by Roland Elluin after Borel.